3 Reasons We're Listening To A La Mode This Week

A La Mode is a Kansas City hot jazz ensemble led by guitarist Clayton DeLong and vocalist Jesica “Baby J” Poell, with performances this weekend.

3 reasons we're listening to A La Mode this week:

1. A La Mode revives the European Gypsy jazz style associated with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Reviewing their new album C’est Si Bon earlier this month, KCUR's Mike Warren suggested that the ensemble “keeps a pre-World War II genre relevant.” (Warren noted that Victor and Penny and the Hot Club of Kansas City are among the additional locally based groups that perform hot jazz.)

Lincoln Marshall is the Kansas-based rap duo of Approach (Sean Hunt) and MilkDrop ( John-Alan Suter). They're on the bill for this weekend's Sound Machine concert, a monthly event that's envisioned as a miniature version of the annual Middle of the Map Fest.